University of Virginia Library

Oceana. & Britannia.

Oceana.
Whither, O whither wander I forlorn?
Fatal to Friends, and to my Foes a scorn.
My pregnant Womb is labouring to bring forth
Thy Off spring Archon, Heir to thy just worth.
Archon, O Archon, hear my groaning Cries;
Lucina, help, asswage my Miseries.
Saturnian spight pursues me thro' the Earth,
No corner's left to hide my long wisht Birth.
Great Queen of the Isles, yield me a safe retreat
From the crown'd Gods, that would my Infants eat.
To me O Delos on my Child-Bed smile,
My happy Seed shall fix thy floating Isle.
I feel fierce pangs assault my Teeming Womb,
Lucina, O Britannia, Mother, come.

Britan.
What doleful shrieks pierce my affrighted Ear
Shall I ne'r rest for this lewd Ravisher?
Rapes, Burnings, Murthers are his Royal Sport,
These Modish Monsters haunt his perjur'd Court.
No tumbling Player so oft e're chang'd his shape,
As this Goat, Fox, Wolf, timerous French Ape.
True Protestants in Roman Habits drest,
With Scrogs he baits that Ravenous Butchers Beast.
Tresilian J**s, that fair-fac'd Crocodile,
Tearing their Hearts, at once doth weep and smile,
Neronian Flames at London do him please,
At Oxford Plots to Act Agathocles.
His Plot's reveal'd, his Mirth is at an end,
And's fatal hour shall know no Foe nor Friend.
Last Martyr's day I saw a Cherub stand
A cross my Seas, one Foot upon the Land,
The' other on the enthralled Gallick Shore,
Aloud Proclaim their Time shall be no more.
This mighty Power Heav'ns equal Ballance sway'd,
And in one Scale Crowns, Crosiers, Scepters laid,
I'th' other a sweet smiling Babe did lye,
Circled with Glories, deck'd with Majesty.
With steddy Hand he pois'd the Golden pair,
The gilded Gew-gaws mounted in the Air,
The ponderous Babe descending in its Scale,
Leapt on my Shore—
Nature triumph'd, Joy eccho'd throw the Earth,
The Heav'ns bow'd down to see the blessed Birth.
What's that I hear? A new born Babes soft Cries,
And joyful Mother's tender Lullabies!
'Tis so, behold my Daughter's past all harms,
Cradeling an Infant in her fruitful Arms.
The very same th'Angelique Vision shew'd
In mein, in Majesty how like a God.
What a firm Health does on her Visage dwell?
Her sparkling Eyes Immortal Youth fore-tel.
Rome, Sparta, Venice, never could bring forth
So strong, so temperate, such lasting worth.
Marpesia from the North with speed advance,
Thy Sisters Birth brings thy Deliverance.
Fergusian Founders this just Babe exceeds
I'th' Arts of Peace and mighty Martial deeds.
Ye Panopeians kneel unto your equal Queen,
Safe from the Foreign Sword, and Barbarous Skeen.
Transports of Joy divert my yearning Heart
From my dear Child, my Soul, my better part.
Hev'n show'r her choicest Blessings on thy womb,
Our present help, our stay in time to come.
Thou best of Daughters, Mothers, Matrons say,
What forc'd thy Birth, and got this glorious Day?

Ocea.
Scap'd the slow Jaws o'th' grinding Pensioners,
I fell i'th' Traps of Rome's dire Murtherers;
Twice rescu'd by my Loyal Senate's Power.
Twice I expected my Babe's happy Hour.
Malignant force twice check'd their Pious aid,
And to my Foes as oft my State betray'd.
Great, full of pain, in a dark Winters Night,
Threatned, pursu'd, I escap'd by sudden flight.
Pale fear gave speed to my weak'trembling Feet,
And far I fled e're Day our World could greet.
That dear-lov'd Light which the whole Globe doth chear,
Spur'd on my flight, and added to my fear,
Whilst black Conspiracy, that Child of Night,
In Royal Purple clad, out-dares the Light.
By Day her self the Faith's Defender stiles,
By Night dig Pits, and spreads her Papal Toils
By Day he to the Pompous Chappel goes,
By Night with York adores Rome's Idol-shews:
Witness ye Stars and silent Powers of Night,
Her Treacheries forc'd my Innocent flight.
With the broad Day my danger too drew near,
Of help, of Council void, how shall I steer?
I'th' Pulpit damn'd, Strumpet at Court proclaim'd,
Where should I hide, where should I rest defam'd?
Tortur'd in thought, I rais'd my weeping Eyes,
And sobbing Voice to th'all helping Skies;
As by Heav'n sent a Reverend Sire appears,
Charming my Grief, and stopping my flood of Tears.
His busie circling Orbs (two restless Spies)
Glanc'd to and fro, out-ranging Argos Eyes.
Like fleeting Time, on's Front one lock did grow,
From his glib Tongue torrents of words did flow
Propose, Resolve, Agrarian Forty one,
Lycurgus, Brutus, Solon, Harington.
He said, he knew me in my Swadling bands,
Had often danc'd me in his careful Hands.
He knew Lord Archon too, then wept and swore,
Enshrin'd in me, his Fame he did adore.
His Name I ask'd, he said, Politico,
Descended from the Divine Nicholo.
My state he knew, my danger seem'd to dread,
And to my safety vow'd, Hand, Heart, Head.
Grateful Returns I up to Heaven send,
That in Distress had sent me such a Friend.
I ask'd him where I was? Pointing, he shew'd
Oxford's Old Towers, once the Learned Arts aboad.
(Once great in Fame, now a Piratick Port,
Where Romish Priests and Elvish Monks resort)
He added near a new-built College stood,
Endow'd by Plato for the Publick good.
Thither allur'd by Learned Honest Men,
Plato vouchsaf'd once more to live again.
Securely there I might my self repose,
From my fierce Griefs and my more cruel Foes.
Tyr'd with long flights, e'en hunted down with fear,
The welcome News my drooping Soul did chear.
His pleasing words shortned the time and way,
And me beguil'd at Plato's House to stay.
When we came in, be told me (after rest,)
He'd shew me Plato and's Venetian Guest,
I scarce reply'd, with weariness opprest.
To my desir'd Apartment I repair'd,
Invoking Sleep and Heaven's Almighty Guard.
My waking Cares and stabbing frights recede,
And nodding Sleep dropt on my drowsie Head.
At last the Summons of a busie Bell,
And glimmering Lights did Sleeps kind Mists dispel.
From Bed I stole, and creeping by the Wall,
Thro' a small Chink I spy'd a Spacious Hall.
Tapers as thick as Stars did shed their Light
Around the place, and made a Day of Night.
The curious Art of some great Master's hand,
Adorn'd the Room—Hide, Clifford, D--- stand
In one large piece, next them the two Dutch Wars,
In bloody Colours paint our fatal Jars.
Here London Flames in Clouds of smoke aspire,
Done to the life, I'd almost cry'd out Fire.
But living Figures did my Eyes divert
From those, and many more of wondrous Art.
There entred in three Mercenary Bands.
(The different Captains had distinct Commands)
The Begger's desperate Troop did first appear,
L---ton led, proud S---re had the Rear.
The disguis'd Papists under Garroway,
Talbot Lieutenant (none had better pay)
Next greedy Lee led Party-colour'd Slaves,
Deaf Fools i'th' right, i'th' wrong sagacious Knaves.
Brought up by M---, then a Nobler Train,
(In Malice mighty, impotent in Brain)
The Pope's Solicitor brought into th'Hall,
Not guilty Lay much guilty Spiritual.
I also spy'd behind a private Skreen,
Colebert and Portsmouth, York and Mazarine.
Immediately in close Cabal they joyn,
And all applaud the Glorious Design.
'Gainst me and my lov'd Senates Free born Breath,
Dire threats I hear'd, the Hall did Eccho Death.
A Curtain drawn, another Scene appear'd,
A tinckling Bell, a mumbling Priest I heard.
At Elevation every Knee ador'd
The Baker's Craft, Infallible's vain Lord.
When Cataline with Vipers did conspire,
To Murther Rome and bury it in Fire,
A Sacramental Bowl of Humane Goar,
Each Villain took, and as he drank he swore.
The Cup deny'd, to make their Plot compleat,
These Catalines their conjur'd Gods did eat.
Whilst to their Breaden Whimseys they did kneel,
I crept away, and to the door did steal.
As I got out, by Providence I flew,
To this close Wood, too late they did pursue.
That dreadful night, my Child-Bed Throws brought on,
My Crys mov'd yours and Heavens Compassion.

Britania.
Oh happy day! A Jubilee Proclaim,
Daughter adore the unutterable name.
With grateful Heart breath out thy self in Prayer.
In the mean time thy Babe shall be my care.
There is a man my Island's Hope and Grace,
The chief Delight and Joy of humane Race.
Expos'd himself to War, in tender Age,
To free his Country from the Gallick Rage,
VVith all the Graces blest his riper Years,
And full blown Vertue wak'd the Tyrant's fears.
By's Sire rejected, but by Heaven call'd,
To break my Yoke, and rescue the Enthral'd.
This this is he who with a stretch'd out Hand,
And matchless might shall free my groaning Land.
On Earth's proud Basilisks he'll justly fall,
Like Moses Rod, and Prey upon them all.
He'll guide my People through the Raging Seas,
To Holy Wars and certain Victories.
His spotless Fame, and his Immense Desert,
Shall plead Loves cause, and storm this Virgins Heart.
She like Ægeria shall his Breast inspire,
With Justice, Wisdom, and Celestial Fire.
Like Numa be her Dictates shall obey,
And by her Oracles the World shall sway.